Profile: Captain America
Cap No More…
Met Spider-Man & Captain America at Universal Studios back in 2006
The late comic book writer Mark Gruenwald has been in the comic business for over 20 years and his greatest work in my opinion is his run on the Marvel Comics icon–Captain America. Gruenwald defined the personality of Captain America starting with issue 273 until issue 442 (Captain America’s last issue was 452) and one of his most memorable story lines was “Cap No More” (Issue 332 till 350) wherein the US Government discovers the secret identity of Cap and subsequently declares the costume, shield, and very symbol that is Captain America as government property.
In order to retain the persona of Captain America, Steve Rogers was ordered to serve as a government agent answering only to the Higher Commission, a group of suits in charge of super human activities. However, with the United States being a free country, Rogers eventually decided to evoked his right to choose and relinquished the uniform and shield of Captain America.
After several weeks, Rogers emerged as “The Captain” and armed with a Vibranium shield provided by Stark Enterprises, The Captain went after a number of villains like the Serpent Society, Famine of the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse, Crossbones, The Red Skull, etc.
Captain America #354
The Captain was not alone in this crusade as he teamed up with old friends (e.g., The Falcon and Nomad) and made some new ones along the way (e.g., “D-Man” or Demolition Man and Vagabond). This particular storyline concludes in issue 350 wherein the clone of Steve Rogers (revealed to hold the thoughts, memories, and very essence of the deceased Red Skull) pitted Johnny Walker, The new Captain America against the old Captain America, Steve Rogers. Ultimately, both Rogers and Walker are able to set aside their differences and work together to defeat the Red Skull.
Soon after, The Commission deemed Walker to be too volatile as Captain America and gave the mantel as well as all the rights and privileges back to Rogers who resumed his role as the original sentinel of liberty. Yet The Commission’s machinations ran deep and they had other plans for Walker. The Commission orchestrated a mock assassination as well as bought the rights to Rogers’ “The Captain” costume and subsequently gave it to Walker–now known as the U.S. Agent–in issue #354.
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